Experimentation

Three Sisters Variation

The basis of the Three Sisters method is that the First Sister is tall, sturdy and shades the others, the Second Sister climbs on the First for support and the Third Sister spreads leafy vines along the ground and provides ground cover to shade out weeds, retain moisture and to keep off grazers with its thorns. One or more of the sisters are nitrogen-fixing to keep the soil fertile, commonly the Second Sister. Therefore one could make variations on the Three Sisters based on the above characteristics. By selecting at least one plant from each of the three columns of the table below and having at least one of them be a nitrogen-fixer (marked in green text), a Three Sisters garden is formed.

Typically, a good rule of thumb for good soil is to mix carbon and nitrogen type materials at 50/50 volume before decomposition sprinkled with mineral type material. The addition of molds, microbes and bugs will kick start the decomposition process.

Considerations:

Too much nitrogen and the pile will smell.

Too much carbon and the pile will decompose too slowly and result in poor soil.

Too few minerals and your plants will be anemic-looking.

Not enough seed molds, microbes and decomposition bugs and it will take some time for the pile to break down.

Soil Decontamination & Bioremediation

Based on previous data on which compost has been used to remove contaminants from soil.